What is deliberate practice?

Like great athletes or artists, teachers become excellent at their craft through experience and practice. Deliberate practice—a focus on the concrete and specific teaching skills necessary to maximize impact in the classroom—is a cornerstone of all Relay programs, and especially the Relay Teaching Residency program.

Residents participate in weekly three-to-four-hour practice sessions to develop and perfect their teaching skills. These practice sessions complement and support Relay master’s classes. For example, you might practice responding to common student misconceptions. Then you would receive expert feedback, apply that feedback, and do it again to build your skills.